I would love your opinions on my business idea of a children's gym!

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Hi everyone. I am thinking of opening a gym just for children and would really appreciate your thoughts. It would be based on an adult gym with mini equipment aimed at 3 to 10 year olds. There would be mini bikes hooked up to big plasma screens where children can race each other (or cycle independently), rowing machines, treadmills, twisters and cross trainers. There would also be two big sponge pits where the kids could take a big run and jump into them, a mini zip wire and a climbing wall. I also thought about getting an interactive shadow wall like at Cadbury's world where the children hit, move, wave etc objects (shadows) that fall down the screen. I would also hold classes such as cheerleading, mini step, yoga, ballet and jedi academy based on star wars. I would offer fruit and water during sessions and there would be a healthy eating cafe on site. If possible I am aiming to get some outdoor space for nice days where group activities could take place or equipment could be moved outdoors.
I thought about charging on a pay as you go basis £3.50 per hour or £5.00 per hour and a half The gym would be light, airy, spacious and well staffed by qualified workers. It would also be very secure. What does everyone think?

I agree with mehdismummy too.

I've had a gym membership for the last 12 months and only been a handful of times and I like to think I have an attention span longer than a 3 year old! which reminds me, I'm off to cancel it now....

Thanks for your opinion tmmj, why do you think it is so sad? Fun fitness is sad? I am not aiming to turn them into Miss and Mr Universe!
(I've changed the nickname to something intelligible!)

sorry i dont think there is anything fun about children as young as three going to a gym. but that is just my opinion.

if you dont make money then its a waste of time

ime i wouldb be wary of people saying its a great idea cos what they say and what they do in reality are two different things

Okay, so it seems clear that no one is happy with the idea of a three year old playing on gym equipment! Definitely going to consider raising the age range to, say 16 but keep all the other things such as the sponge pits, zip wires, shadow wall and classes for the little ones. Where I live (Woodseats in Sheffield) there is nothing similar around here for children not even a soft play centre. Perhaps adults could work out alongside their children? As I said, I am open to ideas and you have all certainly given me those!Back to the drawing board!

I still agree with medhismummy
Whilst at age 3 it is supposedly all about fun, in a way it is 'conditioning' them to become regular gym goers. I just think that if the emphasis is on fun, then you go to a park or play centre. A gym is not what I think of when I think 'fun'.

I also think the only people that would consider it for their children are those people who are avid gym goers themselves. So again, the children are going to see mum and dad getting fit and they will feel/think/believe that that is what their gym is for.

So for me it is still a no.

oh sorry x-posted.

Are you the person that squilly was talking about here?

You might like to have a read of the comments on that thread anyway.

Sorry to say this but I absolutely hate this idea. Having said that I'm lots of people won't and it will probably be a viable business. Check the market very carefully though. You may just find that people in Sheffield share a similar view to me!

Yes she was talking about me! Lots more research been done since and still doing clearly!
Can I take it though that people like the other ideas as part of the - don't know what to call it now - activity centre/junior gym?? but not the equipment part?
Does anyone like the gym equipment part for say 4 plus years? or is it a total no? Lol.

Do you mean gymnastics equipment or gym equipment similar to the type used by adults?

The other bits sound fab, a bit like an adventure playground.
But gym equipment for children under say age 11 or so is (for me anyway) a huge no no.

Gym equipment similar to the type used by adults. It seems that people find this totally off putting! Good to know before I go ahead.

I think gym stuff is a terribly horrible idea ... the rest sounds good though

I don't like anything for children that copies adult activities; 'pampering sessions' for young girls makes me want to vomit.
The idea of an activity centre which includes soft play is a good one. I also like the idea of classes. Would you have enough room to do indoor football, rugby, basketball, dancing, that type of thing?

What about a room full of Wii machines. That would be OK too.

Don't go on Dragons' Den. Duncan Bannatyne will destroy you - sorry.

Think I will justaboutneedssleep! So, the shadow wall, sponge pits, zip wire, mini parallel bars, low beam, crash pads, cafe and classes will stay. The equipment will go or i will have a separate part for 8 - 16 year olds who can use gym equipment similar to the type used by adults and who can also use the cafe. How does this sound?
I would possibly introduce a soft play bit instead, similar to Gymboree for mums and babies for use during the day.
I could always introduce gym equipment for 4-8 year olds later when I have asked everyone who comes to the place what they think?

gymnastics gym is totally different from a 'gym gym' though IYSWIM

I was only joking about Dragons Den by the way, I can't think of anything more soul destroying, here is bad enough!

hi

there are lots of Sheffield mums on mumsnet so might be worth a more specific shout out to them as they will be your target audience.

personally i think that for my 2 dd's they're too young at nearly 3 and 5.5 but when they're bigger say 10ish then yes but i'd want it to be a drop and leave type establishment.

would there be a way of having daytime for little ones in the foam pits (like in gymnastic type places?) which both of mine would like then after say 5pm switch to bigger children, then from say 8pm on teenagers. I really like the idea of a healthy youth club.

I'm happy to ask around and see what other mums think.

As you're in Sheffield have you been in touch with Yorkshire Forward to see if you can get some money for start up costs, email me on [email protected] and i'll fish out some more info for you.

califrau - was that place based in Barry just outside Cardiff, i remember going to a birthday party a gym where you got to jump into huge pits of foam cubes.